Golf putter with indicating level



March 29, 1966 c. L. GARRETT GOLF PUTTER WITH INDICATING LEVEL Filed May 22, 1963 H n a 6 L A.- c m r M C United States This invention relates to a shaft and handgrip for a golf club, preferably a putter, wherein said handgrip is provided with readily available level indicating means which is normally confined in an out-of-the-way place in a pocket provided therefor but can be withdrawn to assume a readily viewable position preparatory to making a contemplated putt on a golf green.

While the success of reliable putting depends largely on skillful use of a putter the golfer who is a consistently good putter relies heavily on an experienced eye and his trained ability to correctly read the green. To this end he has to evaluate ever varying contours, slopes, the dis tance between the ball and cup, whether the green is fast or slow, and take into account many other relevant factors, to say the least.

The instant endeavor to advance this field of invention has to do with a putter shaft and handle or grip wherein the latter is equipped with normally stored but readily available level means, the latter when effectually employed, serving to take much guesswork out of the picture, whereby better putting based on significant factors can be assured.

Considerable and helpful information relative to proper and improper putting procedures is available with respect to the degree of impact of the club head with the ball, whether the stroke should be long, short or in between such extremes. What the angle of the club head should be, verticality of the shaft, and so on are significant factors which, too, must be taken into account. Whereas many players advocate and recommend a light or socalled easy stroke for greater accuracy the difliculty here is that one cannot always properly compensate for the balls tendency to drift if the surface traversed is irregularly undulated or presents difiicult-to-cope-with slopes to such an extent that the forces of gravity take over and the path of the ball as intended fails to follow through. Because of the foregoing and many other conditions too numerous to mention prior inventors have been experimenting with the principle that by incorporating level indicating means in the club the thus improved club can be more accurately and reliably used in that it can be properly oriented relative to the golfer, his stance and the surface of the green which is to be traversed in putting the ball toward and into the intended cup. The Darrell et al. patent is exemplary of a level indicating putter (Patent 2,919,419), wherein a spirit level is embodied in the upper portion of the shaft adjacent the handgrip.

It is an object of the instant invention to structurally, functionally and in other ways improve upon the Darrell et al. and other prior patents wherein level means is employed in one manner or another to facilitate reliably calculated use of what is otherwise recognized as a conventional-type putter.

As will be hereinafter more clearly evident the preferred embodiment of the instant invention pertains to a built-in indicator, more particularly, a pendu1um-type indicator which is housed or protectively confined in a transparent cylindrical or an equivalent case. This levelequipped case and fingergrip which is carried thereby is mounted atop the upper end portion of the shafts handgrip. When it is not being used it is concealed within the confines of an axial pocket which is provided therefor. When it is desired for use it is withdrawn to a projecting viewable position so that its facilities are then conveniently available and can be relied upon to assist the user atent "ice in accomplishing a result better than would otherwise be had by using the regular or conventional-type putter.

More specifically the invention comprises a relatively small elongated transparent case or barrel which is screwed into the aforementioned pocket when it is not being used and is out of the way. When it is to be used it is unscrewed and suitably withdrawn from the pocket in the handgrip where it is then frictionally lodged and held in a projected easy-to-read position. In the latter position the pendulum-type indicator, which when held in a vertical position is then plumb, swings or shifts in keeping with the angle to which it is subjected and in conjunction with a relatively fixed index provides the user with the desired club-leveling means.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation showing a portion of the shaft of the club, the handle or handgrip attached thereto and, primarily in phantom lines, the indi cating level;

FIGURE 2 is a view based on FIG. 1 with the pocketequipped portion of the handgrip appearing in section and with the indicating means pulled out and frictionally held in its viewable and readable position;

FIGURE 3 is a view on a much larger scale with parts appearing in elevation and section and which brings out the features representing the overall inventive concept;

FIGURE 4 is a still further enlarged detail view in section and elevation taken on the plane of the vertical line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section on the section line 55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is likewise a horizontal section on the section line 66 of FIGURE 4 looking upwardly in the direction of the indicating arrows.

The numeral 8 in FIG. 1 designates a golf putter shaft 10 provided on its upper end with a handgrip 12. The handgrip in this instance is different from other handgrips in that the extreme upper end portion is axially bored to provide a cylindrical socket 14 whose upper end is counterbored as at 16 and screw-threaded as better shown at 18 in FIG. 3. This outwardly opening socket constitutes a pocket for the extensible and retractible level means herein under consideration. The level means 20 comprises a cylindrical barrel or case which, more specifically comprises (see FIG. 3) an elongated transparent plastic or equivalent cylinder 22 which has a solid base portion 24 whose upper interior end is of conical form as at 26 and provided at its axial or central portion with a projecting stud 28 which, in turn, provides a mounting for a pointed conical cap 30 having a suitable shank 32 which is embedded in the upstanding stud. The extreme upper end is fashioned into a point 34 constituting a fixed index. A closure is provided for the upper otherwise open end of the cup portion 22 and this closure, in turn, comprises a knob-like fingergrip 36 having a reduced screw-threaded neck 38 screwed into the counterbored portion 18 and which is centrally provided with a depending shank 49. The lower end of the shank is fashioned into a head-like terminal 42 which in turn is radially slitted as shown in FIG. 6 and centrally provided with a socket 44 to accommodatingly and effectually support the pendulum indicator 46. This indicator comprises a linearly straight stem 48 having a ball joint 50 on its upper end which is pivotally mounted in the socket and provides a ball and socket joint between the shank 40 and the swingable pendulum indicator 46. On the screw-threaded lower end there is a plumb bob or head 52 having a centralized indicating poirit54 at its bottom which is alignable with the index point 34 on the anvil-like stationary index member 30.

The pendulum-type indicator means when not being used is retracted into the pocket 14 and screwed and thus held in place in the manner illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3 and dotted lines in FIG. 1. When it is desired to use the indicator the knob 36 is gripped and the device is unscrewed and then pulled out of the socket or pocket to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the bottom portion 24 is friction-fitted in the upper part of the pocket and stays put. A putter provided with the invention can be used to great advantage by a golfer by simply pulling out the indicator 20 to assume the position indicated in FIG. 2 and then placing the putter blade or head (not shown) fiatwise on the green (not shown) with the shaft and handgrip and 12 in a substantially perpendicular position. Then the invention can be employed as a sight and range finder as well as a level. Hence by sighting through the transparent case the golfer can line up the shaft and handle with the pin, that is, with the pin seated in the middle of the cup on the green. The pin will be held by the caddy and with his aid and the aid of the telltale putter the golfer can plan his approach, estimate or determine in advance which way the ball will break and whether, according to the nature of the green itself whether the ball should be struck heavily or lightly as the case may be.

As is the case with most appliances and measuring instruments and indicators experience is the best teacher in learning how best to use the facilities of the instant invention and the invention is to be interpreted accordingly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur. to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all su-itable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a golf ball putter comprising a shaft having a handgrip at an upper end of said shaft, said handgrip being provided with an axial closed-bottom pocket opening through the upper end of said handgrip, and green reading, range finding and putter level indicating means embodying a transparent case slidingly mounted in said pocket and normally stored and concealed when not in use within the confines of said pocket and adapted to be caught hold of and withdrawn partially but not wholly from the upper open end of said pocket to assume a readily viewable position in axial alignment with the upper end of said shaft and handgrip, said case embodying a stationary index member, and a relatively movable indicator located in said case, said case having a bottom portion, an exterior surface of which is adapted to be temporarily frictionally lodged and retained in the upper open end of said pocket whereby said means is self-retained in an exposed readily viewable and usable position atop the upper end of said handgrip, said stationary index member comprising a pointed axially positioned anvil-like member, said indicator comprising a pendulum having a stem and a plumb bob, said plumb bob having a point cooperable with the pointed portion of said anvil-like member, the upper end of said stern having a ball jointing member which is swivelly and universally mounted in a socket provided therefor, said socket embodied in a shank, said shank being joined at an upper end to a gripping knob having a screw-threaded neck screwed into threaded means provided therefor at the upper open end of said pocket.

2. A golf ball putter embodying a shaft having a grip at the upper end of the shaft, said grip provided with an axial bore opening through said upper end and constituting a closed-bottom, open-top pocket, the upper end of said pocket being counterbored and internally screwthreaded, range finding green reading and putter leveling means comprising a transparent case fitting telescopically into said pocket and provided at an upper end with a knob having a screw-threaded neck screwed into said screw-threaded portion, and indicating means operatively confined in said case, said case having a bottom portion slidingly but frictionally fitted into the upper open end of said pocket whereby the case can be selectively concealed and confined in an out-of-the-way position in said socket when not being used and can be caught hold of and withdrawn to an axially projecting position above the upper open top of said socket to assume a readily viewable position in axial alignment with said grip preparatory to lining up a contemplated putt, whereby the indicating means in said case can be brought into play to assist in reading the green, said indicating means comprising a depending shank provided with a socket, a stem having a ball jointing member fitting into said socket and providing a universal joint, said stem being provided at its lower end with a plumb bob, said plumb bob having a point at its bottom cooperable with a point on an anvillike member mounted axially in the bottom portion of said case.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 947,751 1/1910 Long 33-207 X 1,520,113 12/1924 Bloom 273-162 1,686,323 10/1928 Von Der Heyde 273-162 1,947,175 2/1934 Schneider 73-374 X 2,554,133 5/1951 Von Arx 33-2152 2,793,862 5/1957 OBrien 273-162 2,919,491 1/1960 Darrell 33-207 ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. HULL, Examiner.

L. FORMAN, J. H. BARKSDALE, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A GOLF BALL PUTTER COMPRISING A SHAFT HAVING A HANDGRIP AT AN UPPER END OF SAID SHAFT, SAID HANDGRIP BEING PROVIDED WITH AN AXIAL CLOSED-BOTTOM POCKET OPENING THROUGH THE UPPER END OF SAID HANDGRIP, AND GREEN READING, RANGE FINDING AND PUTTER LEVEL INDICATING MEANS EMBODYING A TRANSPARENT CASE SLIDINGLY MOUNTED IN SAID POCKET AND NORMALLY STORED AND CONCEALED WHEN NOT IN USE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID POCKET AND ADAPTED TO BE CAUGHT HOLD OF AND WITHDRAWN PARTIALLY BUT NOT WHOLLY FROM THE UPPER OPEN END OF SAID POCKET TO ASSUME A READILY VIEWABLE POSITION IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE UPPER END OF SAID SHAFT AND HANDGRIP, SAID CASE EMBODYING A STATIONARY INDEX MEMBER, AND A RELATIVELY MOVABLE INDICATOR LOCATED IN SAID CASE, SAID CASE HAVING A BOTTOM PORTION, AN EXTERIOR SURFACE OF WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE TEMPORARILY FRICTIONALLY LODGED AND RETAINED IN THE UPPER OPEN END OF SAID POCKET WHEREBY SAID MEANS IS SELF-RETAINED IN AN EXPOSED READILY VIEWABLE AND USABLE POSITION ATOP THE UPPER END OF SAID HANDGRIP, SAID STATIONARY INDEX MEMBER COMPRISING A POINTED AXIALLY POSITIONED ANVIL-LIKE MEMBER, SAID INDICATOR COMPRISING A PENDULUM HAVING A STEM AND A PLUMB BOB, SAID PLUMB BOB HAVING A POINT COOPERATABLE WITH THE POINTED PORTION OF SAID ANVIL-LIKE MEMBER, THE UPPER END OF SAID STEM HAVING A BALL JOINTING MEMBER WHICH IS SWIVELLY AND UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED IN A SOCKET PROVIDED THEREFOR, SAID SOCKET EMBODIED IN A SHANK, SAID SHANK BEING JOINED AT AN UPPER END TO A GRIPPING KNOB HAVING A SCREW-THREADED NECK SCREWED INTO THREADED MEANS PROVIDED THEREFOR AT THE UPPER OPEN END OF SAID POCKET. 